Fenix-Deceuninck have officially opened their 2026 team-building campaign with a triple signing and one of the most significant sponsorship announcements in the organisation’s history. The team confirmed that Lotte Claes, Mylène de Zoete and Fien van Eynde will join the WorldTeam for next season, while Premier Tech will come on board as co-title partner across the entire structure from 1 January 2026.
It marks the beginning of a new era. From next season, the women’s squad will race as Fenix-Premier Tech, aligning with the men’s Alpecin-Premier Tech team and both development programmes. Premier Tech have signed a three-year agreement with an option to extend for a further three, adding long-term stability and a major boost in resources.
The Canadian company, founded in 1923, operates in more than 30 countries and specialises in horticulture products, water treatment solutions and industrial automation systems. Their longstanding engagement with cycling and their stated ambition to help shape the future of the sport form the backbone of this new partnership.
Claes brings resilience and late-blooming power
Belgian rider Lotte Claes arrives after the strongest season of her career. A former emergency nurse and elite duathlete, she has carved out an unconventional path into the peloton but now stands as one of Belgium’s most dependable all-rounders.
Her 2025 campaign included a statement victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where she outsprinted Aurela Nerlo after a long, committed move, and a top twenty overall at the Tour de France Femmes after placing 18th on the decisive Alpe d’Huez stage. She later represented Belgium at the 2024 Worlds in Zürich.
Claes’ endurance, aggression and climbing strength make her a natural fit for the front-foot racing style that has defined the team in recent years.
De Zoete strengthens the sprint and track-powered engine room
Dutch sprinter Mylène de Zoete joins from Ceratizit-WNT, bringing speed, experience and a high-performance track background. A former junior world medallist, she has built a reputation as a fast finisher who can survive harder days and contest reduced-bunch sprints.
Her first pro win came in 2023 at the Tour of Chongming Island, and her consistency across WorldTour sprint stages has marked her as one of the most reliable finishers in the Dutch sprinting pipeline. Bronze in the elimination race at the 2022 European Championships underlines her track pedigree and explosiveness.
She will add depth to the team’s sprint structure and broaden tactical options in flat and rolling races.
Van Eynde steps up after a breakthrough season
Belgian rider Fien van Eynde will graduate from the Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team into the WorldTeam after a highly consistent 2025 season. Her year included second place in the Belgian National Road Race and a string of top ten finishes across the late-summer one day block, including at the Grand Prix Stuttgart, Grand Prix de Wallonie and Binche-Chimay-Binche.
She also impressed at the Giro Toscana with fourth on the queen stage and played an important role in the team time trial squad that opened the race with fifth place. Van Eynde’s durability, smart positioning and growing confidence make her an ideal addition to the team’s classics and support unit.
A new chapter as the Premier Tech partnership begins
While the rider announcements strengthen key areas of the roster, the news of Premier Tech joining as co-title sponsor sets the direction of travel for the entire organisation. It provides long-term security and aligns both the men’s and women’s structures under a unified identity.
From 2026, fans will see Fenix-Premier Tech at the major women’s races, a name that signals expanded ambition and the next step in the project’s evolution.
The combination of new signings and a major new partner gives the squad a strong launch point for the coming season, with further announcements expected as the full 2026 roster continues to take shape.
